Mrs. Gregoire1 wants you to know that she is keeping her promises.
One of the most important promises of her (nearly successful) campaign to win a convincing majority of legal votes in 2004 was to not raise taxes:
"To go out and tax people at a time when we're just trying to get ourselves out of a recession, to me, is the wrong direction for the state," she said during the state Democratic Party convention in June.Yet the Democrats in the legislature managed to strongarm the unpopular, feckless Gregoire to sign on to a package of whopping tax increases against her will. But yesterday, a Snohomish County Superior Court judge helped restore Mrs. Gregoire's promise by tossing out many of the new taxes she approved against her will:
A Snohomish County judge ruled Friday the Legislature violated the voter-approved spending limit last year by manipulating the state budget to avoid having voters consider $250 million in tax increases.At least somebody in an official position around here is taking the will of the people into account.Superior Court Judge James Allendoerfer in Everett said voters must have their say if the state wants to continue collecting the increased taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and self-service laundries, among other things.
1 This article still cracks me up
King County Elections Director Dean Logan said that the county has addressed the problems that have come up in an honest, transparent way in accordance with state law.Yeah, right.Gregoire said Thursday that she has "every confidence" in Washington's election system.
"I think we have been a model to the rest of the nation and the world at large about how an election system, as close as this one is, can be done with the highest of quality... This is the biggest display of democracy I have ever seen and I am proud of it and I think it's an inspiration."
Also a big thanks to Attorney General Rob McKenna, whose office defended the case.
A few seem to get it that the Queen lied like a rug on all her no new tax promises.
Posted by: GS on March 18, 2006 11:15 AMAt least someone is trying to quell the inevitable uprising of we the people against this "sinful and tyrannical" Governorship.
"I think we have been a model to the rest of the nation and the world at large about how an election system, as close as this one is, can be done with the highest of quality... This is the biggest display of democracy I have ever seen and I am proud of it and I think it's an inspiration."
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She can't be serious...can she? Is she willfully ignoring ANY dissent, or is she surrounded by yes-drones? Is the altitude of the Capitol Building affecting her brain, or what?
She is living in a fantasy land!
Posted by: SP Fan on March 18, 2006 01:07 PM"The judge made his ruling in part based on e-mails between legislative and budget staff for Gov. Chris Gregoire's administration that laid out a road map for the complicated maneuvers that would allow the limit to be pumped up and avoid a public vote on taxes."
They continually avoid a vote of the very people they claim to support. The only people they support are Public Employees and unions.
The rest of us are dirt under the Queen's feet!
Posted by: gs on March 19, 2006 10:22 AMWonder how many people are thinking about leaving this state now that the estate tax has been reinstated, the tax limits have been breached and we're all going to help pay for a new Alaska Way viaduct?
Posted by: Clean House on March 19, 2006 01:11 PMhttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002876556_budget20m.html
Posted by: GS on March 20, 2006 08:28 AMSomeone knew not to bring a case up for review in Thurston County?
Amazing. I guess after learning that in Thurston County the first amendment and the rest of the US constitution are only recommendations, not laws- someone is learning to get these things heard elsewhere.
Posted by: Andy on March 20, 2006 08:54 AM